"Peter Fonda is One of My Uncle's Best Friends"

"Peter Fonda is one of my uncle's best friends, so I've known him all my life," says Bridget Brigette when asked about the photos of her and the famous actor on her website, "and I have the same name as his daughter; it's a Celtic thing. Peter comes down once a year for the parties my mother hosts for her students."

Her mother, Dr. Marianne McDonald, a professor of the classics and of cinema and theater at UCSD (and winner of both the Living Legacy Award and the Egeria Award from the Women's International Center), shows Easy Rider to her students and compares the film to the themes of heroics and tragedy in ancient Greek literature.

She laughs and says, "No catfights, if that's what you mean.... There was a guy who almost got thrown out one night, but he wasn't touching anyone; he was just being loud and verbal. There's always going to be someone who gets drunk and makes trouble at any show."

GoGirlsMusicFest happens in large cities across the country every fall; the proceeds go to MusicCares (www.grammy.com/musiccares), a program established in 1989 by the recording academy to help out musicians who are faced with a sudden medical or personal crisis.

Brigette performed at the L.A. Music Awards on November 18, where she was nominated in the category of Adult Contemporary Independent Artist of the Year for her CD When Birds Meet in the Rain, released by San Diego's Bionic Sisters Productions. "It's like a mini-Grammys but for indies," she says, "and there's this funny underside to the L.A. Music Awards, which is the models/sexy singers part. I mean, I come to the awards from a fairly organic, music-first kind of attitude, and I show up to find these ex-cheerleaders in low-cut white leather...who are really good singers, don't get me wrong."

As far as winning the award goes, Brigette reminds me that "Minnie Driver is also nominated. And the company she's signed with has something like 30 labels, so, you know..." she says shrugging. "Even David Geffen, whose record company is probably worth a billion dollars, is still considered 'independent.' "

Bridget Brigitte will host her continuing Music Monday at Humphrey's once a month, with the next one on December 6, 6:30--11 p.m., $5 cover.